Means for sighting guns



OR 2'929la962 Aug. 4, 1942. J. HELFENSTEIN MEANS FOR SIGHTING GUNS Filed Aug. 7, 1941 Join fleezzsz e 272 33. litUMhlHlUAL lusmuwlw is.

Patented Aug. 4, 1942 MEANS FOR srcn'rmcr GUNS John Helfenstein, Bismarck, N. Dak., assignor of two-fifths to George M. Register, Bismarck,

N. Dak.

Application August 7, 1941, Serial No. 405,851

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for sighting a gun, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a means of this kind which essentially consists in the use of a front sight and a rear sight positioned upon a gun barrel and wherein both the sights are constructed in a manner to cooperate one with the other to assure the drawing of an effective bead upon the target and in a manner whereby the portion of the target upon which the bead is drawn is not obscured or obstructed from the vision of the marksman.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a means for sighting a gun wherein is employed a front sight and a rear sight, with each of said sights so constructed and assembled and cooperating one with the other to provide a clear vision to the marksman to assure a maximum of accuracy on behalf of the marksman.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved means for sighting a gun whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the barrel portion of a gun having placed thereon means for sighting constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the rear sight as comprised in Figure 1, unapplied, with portions in elevation.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the front sight, unapplied, and with portions in elevation.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view in top plan particularly illustrating the relation between the front and rear sights as herein embodied.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a modified form of front sight, and

Figure 6 is also a view similar to Figure 4 but showing forms of both front and rear sights.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, B denotes a conventional type of gun or rifle barrel having mounted thereon in any preferred manner a front sight F and a rear sight R.

The rear sight R comprises a tube l of desired dimensions and which has its bore disposed in a direction lengthwise of the barrel B and parallel therewith. This sleeve I at opposite sides thereof has threaded therethrough the shanks 2, said adjustment through the medium of lock nuts 3 threading upon the outer end portions of the shanks 2 and contacting the adjacent side faces of the sleeve l.

These shanks 2 are axially aligned in a direction transversely of the sleeve I. The inner or opposed ends of the shanks 2 are provided at their axial centers with the reduced pins 4 each disposed on a predetermined outward taper, with the smaller end outermost. The outer or reduced extremity of each of the pins 4 carries a head or bead 5, herein disclosed as substantially spherical in form.

Each of the pins 4 with its head or bead 5 is substantially coextensive in length with the other and, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, in the proper adjustment of the heads or beads 5, which is readily effected through the medium of the shanks 2, the heads or heads 5 are equidistantly spaced a predetermined distance on opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the barrel B.

The front sight F comprises a tube 6 of desired dimensions but preferably with the diameter of its bore not less than the diameter of the bore of the tube I of the rear sight R. In its placement upon the barrel B, the axial center of the tube 6 of the front sight F is coaxial with the axial center of the tube I of the rear sight R.

The tube 6 of the front sight F has threaded through the side portions of its wall the shanks l which are also maintained in desired selected adjustment through the medium of the lock nuts 8 threading upon the outer end portions thereof and having binding action against the adjacent edges of the tube 6.

The inner ends of these shanks l at the axial centers thereof are provided with the extended reduced shanks 9 continued by the flat heads l0. These heads II] are each of a spear shape and having their outer points a in direct alignment and, as illustrated in Figure 3, in close proximity one to the other.

It is also to be particularly pointed out that the fiat side faces of these heads Ill are disposed at right angles to the axial center of the tube 6 and, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3, the rear or larger end portions of these heads III are provided therethrough with the openings H. These openings II are of a diameter in excess of the diameter of the heads or beads 5, such difference in diameter being determined by the distance between the applied sights F and R.

It is also to be pointed out that the openings shanks being held in desired selected longitudinal ll of the heads III are spaced apart a distance greater than the space between the heads or beads 5 of the rear sight, as is clearly indicated by the broken line b in Figure 4 of the drawing, said broken line b indicating the perspective or vision from the eye through the aligned sights F and R.

It is to be emphasized that the differences in the length of separation between the openings I l and between the beads or heads depends upon the extent of separation between the applied sights F and. R. Great care must be exercised in initially adjusting the beads or heads 5 and the heads 9 to assure the beads or heads 5 centering on the openings II from the eye 0 of the marksman as under these conditions the marksman has unobscured line of vision through the barrel between the beads or heads 5 and the points a of the heads II] to draw an outer bead on the target.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 5, the beads or heads [2 of the rear sight are the same as the beads or heads 5 hereinbefore referred to. The shanks [4 of the front sight are provided at the axial center of their inner ends with the aligned elongated pins having their opposed ends suitably spaced apart. These pins [5 at a required distance inwardly from their free ends are provided with enlargements l6 which are the equivalent of the openings ll referred to in the first embodiment of the invention and with which the heads or beads 12 of the rear sight are adapted to be centered from the eye d of the marksman to assure the effective bead being drawn on the target.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figure 6, the shanks I! of the rear sight are provided at the axial center of their opposed ends with the outwardly directed pins I8, the outer ends of which carry the heads [9 preferably cylindrical in form and having their opposed faces e fiat and in parallelism. The shanks of the front sight have extending from the axial center of their inner or opposed ends the elongated conical heads 2l, the apices f of which are spaced apart as required. In this embodiment ofthe invention as illustrated in Figure 6, the perspective from the eye 9 of the marksman through the gun or rifle barrel is through the heads [9 to substantially a point midway the length of the conical heads 2|.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a means for sighting a gun constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. Means for sighting a gun comprising a front sight and a rear sight, each of said sights com- .prising a tube, said sights, when applied on the barrel, being substantially axially aligned, aligned pins extending inwardly of the tubular member of the rear sight, the inner ends of said pins having enlargements equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the rear sight, the front sight having inwardly disposed aligned members, the inner ends of such members being spaced apart a distance less than the space between the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight, the inner ends of the members of the front sight being also substantially equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the front member.

2. Means for sighting a gun comprising a front sight and a rear sight, each of said sights comprising a tube, said sights, when applied on the barrel, being substantially axially aligned, aligned pins extending inwardly of the tubular member of the rear sight, the inner ends of said pins having enlargements equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the rear sight, the front sight having inwardly disposed aligned members, the inner ends of such members being spaced apart a distance less than the space between the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight, the inner ends of the members of the front sight being also substantially equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the front member, the members of the front sight being provided inwardly of the inner ends with parts with which the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight are to register to the eye of the marksman, said parts of the members of the front sight being spaced apart a distance greater than the space between the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight, the difference in such spacings being determined by the extent of separation between the front and rear sights as applied on the barrel.

3. Means for sighting a gun comprising a front sight and a rear sight, each of said sights comprising a tube, said sights, when applied on the barrel, being substantially axially aligned, aligned pins extending inwardly of the tubular member of the rear sight, the inner ends of said pins having enlargements equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the rear sight, the front sight having inwardly disposed aligned members, the inner ends of such members being spaced apart a distance less than the space between the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight, the inner ends of the members of the front sight being also substantially equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the front member, the outer portions of the members of the front sight being flattened and provided therethrough with openings inwardly of the opposed ends of the members, said openings being so positioned to have the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight register therewith to the eye of the marksman.

4. Means forsighting a gun comprising a front sight and a rear sight, each of said sights comprising a tube, said sights, when applied on the barrel, being substantially axially aligned, aligned pins. extending inwardly of the tubular member of the rear sight, the inner ends of said pins having enlargements equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the rear sight, the front sight having inwardly disposed aligned members, the inner ends of such members being spaced apart a distance less than the space between the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight, the inner ends of the members of thhe front sight being also substantially equidistntly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the front member, the members of the front sight inwardly of their opposed ends being provided with enlargements with which the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight register to the eye of the marksman.

5. Means for sighting a gun comprising a front sight and a rear sight, each of said sights comprising a tube, said sights, when applied on the barrel, being substantially axially aligned, aligned pins extending inwardly of the tubular member of the rear sight, the inner ends of said r3ZTiEGMl-ITMCAL \NSTRUMhN l 3 pins having enlargements equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the rear sight, the front sight having inwardly disposed aligned members, the inner ends of such members being spaced apart a distance less than the space between the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight, the inner ends of the members of the front sight being also substantially equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the front member, the enlargements at the opposed ends of the pins of the rear sight being spherical.

6. Means for sighting a gun comprising a front sight and a rear sight, each of said sights comprising a tube, said sights, when applied on the barrel, being substantially axially aligned,

member of the rear sight, the inner ends of said pins having enlargements equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the rear sight, the front sight having inwardly disposed aligned members, the inner ends of such members being spaced apart a distance less than the space between the enlargements of the pins of the rear sight, the inner ends of the members of the front sight being also substantially equidistantly spaced at opposite sides of the axial center of the bore of the tube of the front member, the enlargements at the opposed ends of the pins of the rear sight being 15 cylindrical members having opposed fiat faces.

JOHN HELFENSTEIN. 

